County spraying the fence lines!

man i wish my town would spray my fencline for free.......

Round up won't hurt your animals. Maybe if you pour a gallon down their throat, but not in the small amount that is going to sprayed on your fenceline. And as far as comparing DDT and Round UP, the approval process for chemicals has come a ways since DDT was developed and used. Mentioning DDT on a farming board is like comparing any government agency you don't like to the Nazi's and really doesn't do much for your argument, if that's what you're attempting.

If you have an approved or certified organic property, as I do, and your property borders a county road, (as mine does) then there are lots of things YOU can do to prevent spraying of your property, instead of whining on a message board about how the big bad government is ready to come in and kill all your livestock. It isn't the county's responsibility to keep track of which properties shouldn't be sprayed, and the process of spraying is usually done before the mowers come in. Put up signs, be diligent in knowing when spraying will happen (contact the public works department and ASK them when they have it scheduled to spray along your border - they'll know). Move your fenceline back if you're that worried about your animals and property. The county has an easement at the roadside and that easement is accounted for in organic proposals. Generally the spray doesn't travel more than 3-5', less than most easements. If you're actually that concerned, find out and move your fenceline back - I doubt your farm is going to go bankrupt because you lost 2' of land along the county road - an area you probably don't want your "organic" animals grazing, considering the amount of auto emissions that are most likely clinging to the brush there.

Why do people ask for advice if they've already decided they can't do anything to prevent all the big bad conspiracies they perceive are happening? Please, drama queens, take a break. If you didn't do your homework before the spraying began (and come on, counties do it EVERY YEAR) stop blaming everyone else for your mistakes. In 20 years, my county workers, no Einsteins, have never accidently sprayed my property. Ever.

Sorry but here's MY rant again-


NEW STUDIES: MONSANTO'S BEST SELLING "SAFE" PESTICIDE IS HIGHLY TOXIC

Two new peer-reviewed scientific studies have further confirmed the toxicity of glyphosate, the world's most commonly used herbicide. The June 2005 scientific journal "Environmental Health Perspectives" reports that glyphosate, sold by Monsanto under the brand name "Roundup," damages human placental cells at exposure levels ten times less than what the company claims is safe. A study in the August journal Ecological Applications found that even when applied at concentrations that are one-third of the maximum concentrations typically found in waterways, Roundup still killed up to 71 percent of tadpoles in the study. Similar glyphosate studies around the world have been equally alarming. The American Academy of Family Physicians epidemiological research has now linked exposure to the herbicide with increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a life-threatening cancer, while a Canadian study has linked glyphosate exposure with increased risk for miscarriage. A 2002 study linked glyphosate exposure with increased incidence of attention deficit disorder in children. Despite these studies, Monsanto continues to advertise Roundup, sprayed heavily on 140 million acres of genetically engineered crops across the world, as one of the "safest" pesticides on the market. Learn more & take action:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.html




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Everything you never wanted to know about RoundUp:

Using RoundUp to kill Bermuda is a bad idea but so is leaving the Bermuda grass. It is the worst weed you can have in a bed. Plastic, both solid and the so-called weed-blocking kind, is also a bad idea because it doesn't work well and fouls up the most important part of the soil - the surface just under the mulch. That's where the temperature is ideal, minerals are available, life is transitioning back and forth between the mulch and the soil, etc. The best method is to remove the top 1 and 1/2 to 2 inches of soil and toss it in the compost pile. Then apply the compost and other organic amendments. Do not till the area first - that drives pieces of the stems (rhizomes and stolons) down into the ground allowing it to come back forever as a horrible weed.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundup

really funny when they talk about the scientist "studying" taking samples from the uterus of male rats! maybe I'm drama queen or a conspiracy theorist. I still think it takes more cash than science to get a chemical approved for use.

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A mystery is not an explanation..... on the contrary....no sooner is a myth forged than, in order to stand it needs another myth to support it.

More than likely what they used is far stronger than Roundup.They spray here but you can't just walk in and buy what they use.

They say it won't hurt Livestock.But who knows for sure I know vsome of this cemical I get into,burns to the point I have to bath soon after getting in to it.

big rockpile

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If I need a Shelter
If I need a Friend
I go to the Rock!

The biggest coverup with all this chemical testing is the fact that the ingredients are tested separately!!! They are much more toxic in the combinations that they are separate, yet the govt does not test the combinations as they are sold. If they were tested in the combinations in which they are sold then the safe recommended amount of exposure would be much less than it is now.

DocM, While I usually really respect your point of view, in this case I heartily disagree. Studies are finding that many common and approved herbicides aren't all that wonderful. In addition, the folks hired to do the job aren't necessarily always the most careful. The one they wanted to spray along my fenceline to eradicate the acacia (which it didn't where it was sprayed-acacia spreads along kind of like berry vines, under ground, long runners-hard as heck to eradicate) was less than 10 feet from our little seasonal creek, full at the time with salamanders and frogs. One of the main warnings on the herbicide they used (a relative of roundup, diff name) was NOT TO SPRAY NEAR WATERWAYS. Well, even though I showed the guy the creek and its little critters, he said it wasn't REALLY a creek since it was only seasonal and wasn't on the map. That being said, he was planning to spray while it was still running and draining into Lindsey Creek, one of our critical spawing habitats for the Mad River steelhead and salmonids. THAT was just knuckleheaded beaurocracy in my drama queen mind. I don't feel myself to be too cynical a gal, but whoever in this thread said that money wins over science, I have to concur. Look at the current administration and their running roughshod over our Constitution in the name of the almighty dollar. Lobbyists and pork barrels abound in Washington, and it DOES trickle down into our little counties, even into our ditches, pun totally intended. I am not slamming our local guys, just the fact that they get lost in the process and don't always stop to think things through, they just want to mark off another job completed, and not have to hassle with us hags complaining.

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Joan Crandell
Wild Iris Farm
"Fair"- the other 4 letter F word." This epiphany came after almost 10 days straight at our county fair.

I meant to add a great site we have here in California. It is called Californians for Alternatives to Toxins. The site is:
www.alternatives2toxics.org

It is informative and helpful.

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Joan Crandell
Wild Iris Farm
"Fair"- the other 4 letter F word." This epiphany came after almost 10 days straight at our county fair.

question.. here they go down the road spraying for mosquitos. Do you think that could be harm full to my animals? We still have tons of mosquitos but, I will say I don't see many fireflies anymore

The county never called, but I did make contact with someone who told me that they were not the ones who did the spraying. Now I need to find out who did the spraying. I have a call in to the electric company to find out if it was them.

The point is that this land belongs to me. Nobody has a right to come spray any type of chemical or poison on my land. The brush that they killed was food for my goats. They didn't spray the ditch, they sprayed the fence, which belongs to me. My fence is set 2 feet back from county property so there is no way they can spray the fence line without infringing on my property. They totally destroyed part of my animals feed. Yes, I am ticked off over this. They had no right to spray anything on my property.

They didn't spray the south pasture, only the north side. It's like they were spraying a particular area. I want to find out who did it, what they sprayed, why they did it, and what gave them the idea they can spray private property without the owners permission.

I just wanted to say that I am all for "personal responsibiliity". I take responsibility for the health and welfare of my animals and family and that includes not using potentially dangerous chemicals from being used in excess on my property and not depending on the government to make sure I am safe. when someone comes onto your property and does this without your permission, they have infringed on your right to protect yourself and your property. so do not let anyone make you feel like this is your fault or that you were irresponsible. thats just ridiculous. what is the point of owning your own property if anyone can come on and do whatever they please, unless you track them down first and tell them not to first? I see you are in oklahoma, as I. around my place the only spraying I've seen was done by PSO. it was probably them. or maybe it was the aliens! you know there is a huge coverup about the landing pads on oklahoma mountain tops

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A mystery is not an explanation..... on the contrary....no sooner is a myth forged than, in order to stand it needs another myth to support it.

It never ceases to amaze me how many gov't conspiracies are aimed directly as HST posters. Again, you'd have to consume literally GALLONS of herbicide for it to affect you. No government agency is going to set themselves up for a lawsuit by spraying "dangerous" chemicals on your property. Well, unless you're a HST poster, then you're probably on a list somewhere. Twice if you have goats. Because we all know that all gov't agencies are ruled by a liberal agenda that wants to kill off your way of life.

Next year, mow your own brush. Put up signs. Move your fence back. And above all, stop whining about your "rights". You've been given advice on how to avoid this in the future. Take it or leave it.

Doc, I've got to say you do keep this forum lively...enjoy the day!!!

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TOPSIDE FARMS

I don't use any chemicals around here, but I did use some on the sidewalk and drive when we lived in town. I will say that I NEVER had ANY luck with Roundup - I finally went to Weed-B-Gone and Grass-B-Gone.

It also sounds like you are getting the run around.

In some areas, if it's determined that you have noxious weeds on your property, they can come onto your land (not just the fenceline), spray, leave, and then bill you for it! That is the case here. All land along a road is sprayed every year unless you keep it mowed and post a no-spray sign (which isn't foolproof, sometimes they spray anyhow.

I suspect that they didn't use roundup. Here it is 2-4D, which wa ssupposedly a component of agent orange.

I don't think there's a lot you can do about it at this point, though it can't hurt to call. Ask them if you can avoid being sprayed again by mowing the area and posting no-spray signs. Also, learn what the noxious weeds are for your area and try to eradicate them or at least keep them from blooming (and going to seed).

DocM,
Not a conspiracy theorist per se (although hmmm maybe the grassy knoll theory... ), but definitely a cynic here. I DO believe that people get so caught up in their own lives/jobs, whatever, that they lose sight of the big picture. From my own experience with the telephone guy wanting to spray near my property despite my objections and evidence of aquatic life (which as roundup says, is harmful for), he just wanted to do his job and move on. I've got many college friends who farm in the Central Valley and are marvelous people, but have never lived outside of pesticide/herbicide use. They can talk about how restricted they are by the government, how regulated their use of pesticides/herbicides/fertilizers are, but they don't want to hear about the cumulative effects of said products over time, on the entire Sacramento River basin. Even worse than agricultural applications are suburbia. Lawn pesticides/herbicides/fertilizers put pressure on the entire system as well as they wash into waterways. I am a HUGE supporter of agriculture but the whole "its MY land, MY privacy, etc" chaps my hairy hide when said "rights" impinge upon the greater public. While my own roadway/fenceline might only get a light application of roundup, they are also spraying/using it in many places throughout the county. It's the cumulative effect that DOES create problems for the greater community. Studies are now showing it does not dissipate a quickly as previously thought and has been detected a full year AFTER application. Finally, I will admit to being a flaming moderate. I am a strong supporter of individual responsibility. We trim our own fencelines/roadside areas. We run the goats where the acacia is(was!) and the only times I complain (aside from general comments about laundry on the floor/dishes in the sink) are when folks like the telephone man come and argue with me without listening to my own concerns.

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Joan Crandell
Wild Iris Farm
"Fair"- the other 4 letter F word." This epiphany came after almost 10 days straight at our county fair.

Take off your blinders and read what I posted.

I will not move my fence! It's on MY property and you want me to move it to give strangers a right to trespass further than they already have??? Are you NUTS???

Mow down and waste the food my animals need??? Again, take off your blinders and read what I posted.

It amazes me how some people think they have the only right answer to other peoples problems. And how they get sarcastic if others don't praise them for their idiosyncrasy.

Now for an update as to what happened...

It turns out a neighbor hired a man to spray his fences. The hired man sprayed the wrong property. He discovered his error before he sprayed the southern fence row. He apologized for his error and brought me a load of hay to replace the browse he destroyed. It all turned out ok in the end. I ended up finding a new source for hay if I need more later this year.

Ooops! It sounds like he did his best to make amends.

I stopped by the farm yesterday just in time to see the farmer spraying one of my dikes. I've been renting the property for 9 years and it wasn't until last year (when I got goats) that he decided to spray some of the dikes. I REALLY wish I had my own property.